Centrifugal compressor



July 13, 1943. c. w. SMITH I CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR Filed Feb. 14, 1942 Inventor Chester W. Smith,

-His Attorney.

Patented July 13, 1943 CENTRIFUGAL COMPRESSOR.

Chester W. Smith, Lynn, Mass, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application February 14, 1942, Serial No. 439,941

6' Claims. (01. 230-114) The present invention relates to centrifugal compressors comprising a rotating impeller which receives fluid to be compressed at a central portion or eye and discharges it to a diffuser which functions to convert the velocity of the fluid into pressure, the fluid passingfrom the difiuser to a discharge scroll. Thediiluser comprises a plurality of circumferentially spaced curved vanes which define difiuser passages through which the fluid being pumped flows and which passages are shaped to convert velocity into pressure.

It is known that to obtain best efiiciency at various loads on a centrifugal compressor; the discharge vanes should be adjustable so that the shape of the diffuser passages can be varied in accordance with theload. The object of my invention is to provide an improved constructionand arrangement for accomplishing this result.

For a consideration of what I believe to be novel and my invention, attention is directed to the following specification and the claims appended thereto. V

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a front view, partly in section, of a centrifugal compressor embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 is a detailed sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, I indicates the easing of a centrifugal compressor, 2 the shaft which is mounted in suitable bearings (not shown), 3'

the impeller carried by shaft 2, and 4 the difiuser vanes. The difluser vanes surround the impeller highest pressure, being at the discharge end of the diffuser passages.

The vanes may be attached to plate or wall 5' of the diffuser in any suitable way, as by welding,"

casting or brazing, and the free ends 9 may be of a length to give the desired amount of adjustment. Plate 5 is suitably attached to one side wall of the compressor casing by any suitable means. The passages between the vanes are closed on the side opposite plate 5 by the adjacent casing wall.

In the operation of a centrifugal compressor,

\ bility are so arranged that with the pressures or wall 5. Fluid to be'compressed, air for example, is supplied to the impeller at its central portion through an opening 6 in the casing and is discharged at the periphery of the impeller to the diffuser passages formed by vanes l. From the difiuser passages, the fluid flows to the'discharge scroll l and out through discharge outvanes are open at their outer ends as is indicated at l0 so that the tips 9 are, subjected to the pressure in this region, which is the region of available the desired amount of flexing or movement will take place.

In accordance with the-provisions of the patent statutes, I have described the principle of operation of my invention, together with the apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodiment thereof, but' I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is only illustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure b Letter Patentof the United States, is:

1. A centrifugal compressor having spaced flexible diffuser vanes which define passages for the flow of fluid and which are subjected to and adjusted relatively to each other .by pressure set up by the compressor to vary the contour of the discharge passages between the vanes.

2. A centrifugal compressor having difiuser vanes which define passages for the flow of fluid, said vanes. being provided with flexible tips, and means for subjecting said tips to pressure set up by the compressor for adjusting said tips to vary the contour of the discharge passages between the vanes.

3.- A centrifugal compressor having diiIuser vanes which define passages for the fiow of fluid, said vanes being provided. with curved hollow flexible tips, and means whereby the interior of the tips are subjected to pressure set up by the compressor for adjusting said tips to vary the contour of the discharge passages between the vanes.

4. A centrifugal compressor having curved hollow flexible diffuser vanes which define passages for the flow of fluid, and means whereby the interior of said vanes are subjected to pressure set upby the compressor to effect adjustment of the vanes relatively to each other to vary the contour of the discharge passages between the vanes.

5. A centrifugal compressor having a difiuser comprising a side plate and curved vanes attached thereto in spaced relation to each other to define difiuser passages, ends of vanes at the entrance side of the difiuser being flexible and free to move toward and away from adjacent vanes, and means for subjecting said ends' to pressure set up by the compressor for eifecting movement of such tips.

6. A centrifugal compressor having a dlfiuser comprising a side plate and curved vanes attached thereto in spaced relation to each other to define difluser passages, said vanes at their entrance ends being in the form of curved hollow flexible parts free to move toward and away from adjacent vanes, and means forsubjecting said hollow parts to pressure set up by the compressor for eflecting adjustment of such flexible parts.

CHESTER W. SMITH. 

